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In my last column, I discussed how to select a broad topic. This week I am bringing the focus tighter. Is the topic too broad or is the topic too narrow? Each of these issues can create a variety of problems which can stop even the most promising work.
Is the topic too narrow? When your topic is too focused, your reader may become bored with your writing. It may seem "dull and dry" or "filled with useless data" and appear "lecture-based" or "difficult to follow." A topic that is too narrow will not have many subpoints. As a writer, you will find yourself trying to squeeze laundry lists of data into a coherent essay without being able to utilize an enjoyable writing style. How can you tell if your topic is too broad or too narrow before you sit down to write? Here is a good strategy that will help you figure out if your topic has a perfect scope. I call it the TIN (Topic Index Number) method. 1. Break down your topic in the same way a scientist might classify a new species. This allows you to see how deep you are digging into your research. Start with a broad category and narrow it down to your idea for a specific topic. Then figure out how broad or narrow your topic is on a 1 to 10 scale (1 being a general knowledge topic and 10 being a specialized interest topic). This will provide you with your TIN rating. Here is an example: 1) History --> 2) American History --> 3) American History before the Civil War --> 4) Presidents before the Civil War --> 5) Thomas Jefferson --> 6) Thomas Jefferson's personal life --> 7) Monticello --> 8) Architectural Advances used in Monticello --> 9) Thomas Jefferson's timekeeping machine at Monticello --> 10) Pulley system in Thomas Jefferson's timekeeping machine at Monticello By counting each level, the final topic "The Pulley System Utilized in Thomas Jefferson's Timekeeping Machine at Monticello" is given a TIN rating of 10. Likewise, you could write a topic at level 8 "Architectural Advances Used in Monticello." This system allows you to review your topic structure. As you prepare to write and conduct research, this topic structure will allow you to refine your topic along a single train of thought.
The copyright of the article Trying for Tight Topics in Historical Writing is owned by Julia Buitrago. Permission to republish Trying for Tight Topics in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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